Smuggled exotic animals meant for sale online seized in Olongapo

Smuggled exotic animals allegedly meant for sale online were seized from a residential compound in Olongapo City, a report on "24 Oras" said on Friday.

 

The authorities found a brahminy kite or a red-backed sea-eagle, two green iguanas endemic to Central and South America, and hundreds of tarantulas, scorpions, and leopard gekcos.

 

"Sabi nung aming confidential informant involved siya sa trading o pagbebenta nitong mga hayop na ito. Actually, may nabanggit pa siya na smuggling," Dr. Steven Toledo of the Biodiversity Management Bureau (BMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.

 

The owner of the allegedly undocumented exotic animals was identified as D'ar Corpuz but he was not in the compound when the authorities seized the animals.

The caretaker Edgardo Villegas said that they are looking after the animals, not selling them online. He also said that the owner has the necessary permits, as far as he knows. 

 

The authorities are also now investigating how the exotic animals were smuggled into the Philippines. 

 

"By all means dadaan 'yan sa Customs, airport and seaport. So 'yun ang dapat naming alamin kung sino ang kinukunan nila doon at paano nakakarating dito," Josie de Leon of the Wildlife Resources Division of the BMB also said. — Trisha Macas/JDS, GMA News